Dr Kane Aldridge

Biography/ Background

Kane Aldridge is an ecologist with a broad interest in the biogeochemistry, primary productivity, algal/macrophyte ecology and the ecological functioning of stream, lake and estuarine ecosystems. Kane’s research focuses on human-impacts upon natural inland water ecosystems and providing tools for better management of these systems. In 2006 Kane began a Postdoctoral Fellowship at The University of Adelaide on the Land and Water Australia funded project: Flow requirements and resource delivery to the Lower Murray Lakes and Northern Coorong. In this role Kane has carried out experiments and been involved in developing a three-dimensional hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model to assess changes in water quality within the Lower Lakes. Information generated from this work has been used extensively by state government agencies in management of the region.

Kane has also been involved in a project looking at salinity constraints upon primary productivity and foodweb structure in the Coorong. Additional projects have included nutrient dynamics in the Lower River Murray, Lake George and Lake Bonney (South-East); foodweb response to flow in the Murray-Darling Basin; ecological benefits of environmental flows provisions in Chowilla Floodplain and rivers of the Mount Lofty Ranges; fish-kills in the Patawalonga Lake; aquatic plant community structure of wetlands in the South-East, South Australia and Medindie Lakes; and soil and groundwater contamination at various sites across South Australia

Qualifications

Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours). Completed in 2001 at The University of Adelaide with a major in Ecology. Honours thesis title: influence of three contrasting macrophytes on sediment redox potential; implications for phosphorus adsorption/desorpion.

Doctor of Philosophy (Environmental Biology). Completed in 2005 at The University of Adelaide. Thesis title: Phosphorus retention and metabolism; indicators of stream deterioration across a rural-urban gradient?

Teaching Interests

Kane has experience in demonstrating practicals for undergraduates is currently a supervisor of three PhD students at The University of Adelaide. They are:

• Dominic Skinner - Changes in water quality in Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert during a period of rapid water level drawdown
• Dae Heui Kim - The influence of salinity on various life stages of Ruppia tuberosa; implications for its distribution in the Coorong
• Nor Azman Kasan - Phosphorus dynamics of Cox Creek wetland

Publications

Aldridge, K.T., Deegan, B.M., Lamontagne, S., Bissett, A. and Brookes, J.D. (2009). Spatial and temporal changes in water quality and sediment character in Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert during a period of rapid water level drawdown. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship, Canberra.

Deegan, B. M., Lamontagne, S., Aldridge, K.T. and Brookes, J.D. (2009). Trophodynamics of the Coorong. Food webs: Their baselines, structures and dynamics in a hypersaline semi-arid coastal lagoon. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship.

Aldridge, K. T., Brookes, J. D. and Ganf, G. G. (2009). Changes in abiotic and biotic phosphorus uptake across a gradient of stream condition. River Research and Applications.

Paton, D., Rogers, D., Aldridge, K., Deegan, B. and Brookes, J. (2009) A future for the Coorong and Lower Lakes. Pacific Conservation Society, 15.

Aldridge, K. T., Brookes, J. D. and Ganf, G. G. (2009). Phosphorus retention in a degraded-urban stream following the addition of coarse particulate organic matter. Journal of Restoration Ecology 17(1) 97-106.

Cook, P.L.M., Aldridge, K.T., Lamontagne, S., Brookes, J.D. (2008). Element and nutrient mass-balances in a large semi-arid riverine lake system (the Lower Lakes, South Australia). CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship.

Brookes, J. D., Aldridge, K., Wallace, T., Linden, L. and Ganf, G. G. (2005). Multiple interception pathways for resource utilisation and increased ecosystem resilience. Hydrobiologia 552(1): 135-146.

Aldridge, K. T. and Ganf, G. G. (2003). Influence of sediment redox potential by three contrasting macrophytes; implications for phosphorus adsorption/desorption. Marine and Freshwater Research 54(1): 87-94.

Expertise for Media Contact

Categories	Environment, Science and technology
Expertise	Stream; lake; river; wetland; reservoir; nutrient; water quality; biogoechemisty; ecology; algae; salinity; torrens river; murray river; lake alexandrina; lake albert; lake george; land use;
Mobile	0400121072

Entry last updated: Sunday, 22 Nov 2009